The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against drug trafficking, intercepting illicit drugs valued at over ?6.5 billion at Nigerias major seaports and arresting individuals involved in related smuggling operations.
Between May 19 and 22, 2025, NDLEA operatives, in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies, conducted joint examinations at the Port Harcourt Ports Complex in Onne, Rivers State, and the Apapa Seaport in Lagos. These operations led to the discovery of:
- Six million pills of opioids, including tamol 225mg, tapentadol 225mg, and carisoprodol 225mg.
- 332,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup.
The seizures were the result of intelligence reports and the tracking of new trafficking routes used by drug cartels to ship illicit substances into Nigeria. This prompted the agency to place certain containers under 100% examination.
In a related operation on May 15, 2025, NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos arrested two British nationals:
- Mhizha Jordan Alexander Tatendra
- Ayedipe Andrew Adejuwon, a British-Nigerian
Alongside them, two Nigerians were also apprehended:
- Shonowo Oluwaseun Imole
- Ofuoma Omokaro Ayobami
The suspects were caught attempting to smuggle 92 bags of Loud, a potent strain of cannabis, weighing 51.10kg into Nigeria. Tatendra, who arrived from Doha on a Qatar Airways flight, was monitored and arrested in the airport car park where the others awaited him in an SUV. Tatendra confessed to being promised 1,300 for delivering the consignment. Adejuwon admitted to arriving in Nigeria a day earlier from South Africa via Ghana.
A subsequent search of their residence in Lekki led to the recovery of:
- ?3,810,500 in cash.
- ?93,000 and 17,200 South African Rand.
- An Apple laptop, an iPhone 14 Pro Max, and four canisters of nitrous oxide (laughing gas).
The NDLEAs efforts extended beyond the seaports and airport, with significant operations across various states:
- Cross River State: Destruction of 75,000kg of skunk on 30 hectares of cannabis farms in Esuk-Odot, Odukpani LGA, and recovery of an additional 200kg on May 22.
- Edo State: Destruction of 1,957.5kg of skunk in Ovia West and Owan West LGAs on May 23 and 24.
- Nasarawa State: Arrest of two suspects with 4,000kg of skunk concealed under unprocessed wood in a truck at Keffi on May 24, and another suspect with 154.5kg in Karu on May 21.
- Kaduna State: Interception of a 22-year-old with 57,750 pills of tramadol and diazepam on the KadunaZaria highway on May 21.
- Bauchi State: Arrest of a 45-year-old with 80 blocks of skunk (45kg) on the BauchiMisau road.
These operations underscore the NDLEAs unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking and abuse in Nigeria. The agencys proactive approach, leveraging intelligence and inter-agency collaboration, continues to yield significant results in disrupting drug supply chains and apprehending those involved in illicit drug activities.
